scholarly journals NFL Draft Prep Players Improve 40-Yard Run Times and Foot-Ground Kinetics

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique Mokha ◽  
Tobin Silver ◽  
Pete Bommarito
Keyword(s):  
Contact Time ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Linear Speed ◽  
Vertical Ground ◽  
Ground Contact Time

Introduction: Linear speed is a discriminant factor between drafted and undrafted American football players into the National Football League. Linear speed is influenced by foot-ground contact time and the magnitude of vertical ground reaction force. The aim of this study was to determine if foot-ground kinetics during speed running could be modified through participating in a 6-week NFL draft preparation camp. Methods:  To evaluate foot-ground kinetics, 16 American football players ran on an instrumented treadmill for 5 seconds at 6.5 m/s.  Linear speed was measured during a 40-yard (36.6 m) outdoor run. Pre- and post-camp linear speed times, stance-averaged vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF, kg/N), foot-ground contact time (msec), and vertical impulse (kg/N * s) were examined using paired t-tests, p<.05. Results: Linear speed times significantly improved [(pre, 4.8±0.2 vs. post, 4.6±0.2 sec), t(15)=13.8, p<.001)], and foot-ground contact time significantly decreased for the right limb [(pre, 177+3.2 vs. post, 168+2.2 ms), t(15)=2.21, p=.043]. Mean vertical impulse and stance-averaged GRF for both limbs remained unchanged, p>.05. Conclusions: Linear speed and selected foot-ground kinetics are modifiable in NFL draft prep players. Training appears to lower 40-yard run times and foot-ground contact time.

scholarly journals Ankle Orthosis-induced Decrease in Repetitive Rebound Jump Height: Relationship With Restriction in Sagittal Ankle Range of Motion

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morikawa Masanori ◽  
Maeda Noriaki ◽  
Komiya Makoto ◽  
Kobayashi Toshiki ◽  
Urabe Yukio
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Athletic Performance ◽  
Contact Time ◽  
Peak Power ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Jump Height ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Vertical Jump Height ◽  
Vertical Ground

Abstract Background: Ankle orthotics decreases the maximal vertical jump height. It is essential to maximize jump height and minimize ground contact time during athletic performance. However, the effect of ankle orthotics on athletic performance has not been reported. We aimed to investigate the effect of ankle orthotics on squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and repetitive rebound jump (RJ) performance and the relationship between jump performance and restriction in sagittal ankle range of motion. Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers performed SJ, CMJ, repetitive RJ under no-orthosis and two orthotic conditions (orthosis 1 and orthosis 2). During SJ and CMJ, we measured the vertical ground reaction force and calculated the following parameters: jump height, peak vertical ground reaction force, rate of force development, net vertical impulse, and peak power. During repetitive RJ, the jump height, contact time, and RJ index were measured. A two-dimensional motion analysis was used to quantify the ankle range of motion in the sagittal plane during SJ, CMJ, and repetitive RJ. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance and the post hoc test showed a significant decrease in the vertical jump height (p = 0.003), peak power (p = 0.007), and maximum plantarflexion and dorsiflexion angles (p <0.001) during SJ using orthosis 2 compared to those using the no-orthosis condition. Additionally, orthosis 2 significantly decreased the jump height at the end of repetitive RJ (p = 0.046), during which a significant negative correlation was found between jump height and maximum dorsiflexion angle (r = 0.485, p = 0.030). Conclusions: An ankle orthosis-induced restriction of dorsiflexion is associated with a reduction in jump height during static jump and repetitive RJ performance.

scholarly journals A Multivariate Polynomial Regression to Reconstruct Ground Contact and Flight Times Based on a Sine Wave Model for Vertical Ground Reaction Force and Measured Effective Timings

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélien Patoz ◽  
Thibault Lussiana ◽  
Bastiaan Breine ◽  
Cyrille Gindre ◽  
Davide Malatesta
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Polynomial Regression ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Sine Wave ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Multivariate Polynomial ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Wave Approximation ◽  
Vertical Ground

Effective contact (tce) and flight (tfe) times, instead of ground contact (tc) and flight (tf) times, are usually collected outside the laboratory using inertial sensors. Unfortunately, tce and tfe cannot be related to tc and tf because the exact shape of vertical ground reaction force is unknown. However, using a sine wave approximation for vertical force, tce and tc as well as tfe and tf could be related. Indeed, under this approximation, a transcendental equation was obtained and solved numerically over a tce x tfe grid. Then, a multivariate polynomial regression was applied to the numerical outcome. In order to reach a root-mean-square error of 0.5 ms, the final model was given by an eighth-order polynomial. As a direct application, this model was applied to experimentally measured tce values. Then, reconstructed tc (using the model) was compared to corresponding experimental ground truth. A systematic bias of 35 ms was depicted, demonstrating that ground truth tc values were larger than reconstructed ones. Nonetheless, error in the reconstruction of tc from tce was coming from the sine wave approximation, while the polynomial regression did not introduce further error. The presented model could be added to algorithms within sports watches to provide robust estimations of tc and tf in real time, which would allow coaches and practitioners to better evaluate running performance and to prevent running-related injuries.

scholarly journals Thigh Muscle Activity, Knee Motion, and Impact Force During Side-Step Pivoting in Agility-Trained Female Basketball Players

2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle R. Wilderman ◽  
Scott E. Ross ◽  
Darin A. Padua
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
Vertical Ground

Abstract Context: Improving neuromuscular control of hamstrings muscles might have implications for decreasing anterior cruciate ligament injuries in females. Objective: To examine the effects of a 6-week agility training program on quadriceps and hamstrings muscle activation, knee flexion angles, and peak vertical ground reaction force. Design: Prospective, randomized clinical research trial. Setting: Sports medicine research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Thirty female intramural basketball players with no history of knee injury (age  =  21.07 ± 2.82 years, height  =  171.27 ± 4.66 cm, mass  =  66.36 ± 7.41 kg). Intervention(s): Participants were assigned to an agility training group or a control group that did not participate in agility training. Participants in the agility training group trained 4 times per week for 6 weeks. Main Outcome Measure(s): We used surface electromyography to assess muscle activation for the rectus femoris, vastus medialis oblique, medial hamstrings, and lateral hamstrings for 50 milliseconds before initial ground contact and while the foot was in contact with the ground during a side-step pivot maneuver. Knee flexion angles (at initial ground contact, maximum knee flexion, knee flexion displacement) and peak vertical ground reaction force also were assessed during this maneuver. Results: Participants in the training group increased medial hamstrings activation during ground contact after the 6-week agility training program. Both groups decreased their vastus medialis oblique muscle activation during ground contact. Knee flexion angles and peak vertical ground reaction force did not change for either group. Conclusions: Agility training improved medial hamstrings activity in female intramural basketball players during a side-step pivot maneuver. Agility training that improves hamstrings activity might have implications for reducing anterior cruciate ligament sprain injury associated with side-step pivots.

scholarly journals Effects of shoe weight on landing impact and side-to-side asymmetry

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256061
Author(s):  
I-Lin Wang ◽  
Jin-Jiang Gao ◽  
Li-I Wang ◽  
Ke-Ke Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Contact Time ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Drop Height ◽  
Limb Injuries ◽  
Ground Contact Time ◽  
Force Time ◽  
Leg Dominance ◽  
Side Asymmetry

Shoes of different weights affect proprioception. Drop jump (DJ) tasks are often used to explore the risks and mechanisms of lower limb injuries. Leg dominance mainly refers to differences between the dominant and nondominant legs. Eight males and eight females participated in this study. The weights of the shoes in this investigation were 255 g, 335 g, and 415 g, and the heights of the DJ were 30 cm, 40 cm, and 50 cm. The side-to-side asymmetry of the time of contact initiation for the 30DJ was greater than that of the 40DJ and 50DJ, and the asymmetry for shoes weighing 415 g and 355 g was greater than that for shoes weighing 255 g. When the drop height increased, the side-to-side asymmetry of the peak ground reaction force (PGRF). also increased. The ground contact time increased as the drop height increased to 50DJ. Higher drop heights caused greater side-to-side asymmetry of the PGRF. Heavier shoes caused the peak ground reaction force time (PGRFT) in the nondominant leg to appear earlier, reduced the jump height and affected the performance. Heavier shoes caused greater side-to-side asymmetry at the initial ground contact and at the ground contact time, affecting training effectiveness.

scholarly journals Associations Among Eccentric Hamstrings Strength, Hamstrings Stiffness, and Jump-Landing Biomechanics

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 717-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek R. Dewig ◽  
Jonathan S. Goodwin ◽  
Brian G. Pietrosimone ◽  
J. Troy Blackburn
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Landing Biomechanics ◽  
Peak Knee ◽  
Acl Injury Risk ◽  
Vertical Ground

Context Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk can be assessed from landing biomechanics. Greater hamstrings stiffness is associated with a landing-biomechanics profile consistent with less ACL loading but is difficult to assess in the clinical setting. Eccentric hamstrings strength can be easily evaluated by clinicians and may provide a surrogate measure for hamstrings stiffness. Objective To examine associations among eccentric hamstrings strength, hamstrings stiffness, and landing biomechanics linked to ACL injury risk. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants A total of 34 uninjured, physically active participants (22 women, 12 men; age = 20.2 ± 1.6 years, height = 171.5 ± 9.7 cm, mass = 67.1 ± 12.7 kg). Intervention(s) We collected eccentric hamstrings strength, active hamstrings stiffness, and double- and single-legged landing biomechanics during a single session. Main Outcome Measure(s) Bivariate associations were conducted between eccentric hamstrings strength and hamstrings stiffness, vertical ground reaction force, internal knee-extension moment, internal knee-varus moment, anterior tibial shear force, knee sagittal-plane angle at initial ground contact, peak knee-flexion angle, knee frontal-plane angle at initial ground contact, peak knee-valgus angle, and knee-flexion displacement using Pearson product moment correlations or Spearman rank-order correlations. Results We observed no association between hamstrings stiffness and eccentric hamstrings strength (r = 0.029, P = .44). We also found no association between hamstrings stiffness and landing biomechanics. However, greater peak eccentric strength was associated with less vertical ground reaction force in both the double-legged (r = −0.331, P = .03) and single-legged (r = −0.418, P = .01) landing conditions and with less internal knee-varus moment in the single-legged landing condition (r = −0.326, P = .04). Conclusions Eccentric hamstrings strength was associated with less vertical ground reaction force during both landing tasks and less internal knee-varus moment during the single-legged landing but was not an acceptable clinical estimate of active hamstrings stiffness.

Validation of a Torso-Mounted Accelerometer for Measures of Vertical Oscillation and Ground Contact Time During Treadmill Running

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricky Watari ◽  
Blayne Hettinga ◽  
Sean Osis ◽  
Reed Ferber
Keyword(s):  
Contact Time ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Vertical Oscillation ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Concordance Correlation ◽  
Single Marker ◽  
Ground Contact Time

The purpose of this study was to validate measures of vertical oscillation (VO) and ground contact time (GCT) derived from a commercially-available, torso-mounted accelerometer compared with single marker kinematics and kinetic ground reaction force (GRF) data. Twenty-two semi-elite runners ran on an instrumented treadmill while GRF data (1000 Hz) and three-dimensional kinematics (200 Hz) were collected for 60 s across 5 different running speeds ranging from 2.7 to 3.9 m/s. Measurement agreement was assessed by Bland-Altman plots with 95% limits of agreement and by concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The accelerometer had excellent CCC agreement (> 0.97) with marker kinematics, but only moderate agreement, and overestimated measures between 16.27 mm to 17.56 mm compared with GRF VO measures. The GCT measures from the accelerometer had very good CCC agreement with GRF data, with less than 6 ms of mean bias at higher speeds. These results indicate a torsomounted accelerometer provides valid and accurate measures of torso-segment VO, but both a marker placed on the torso and the accelerometer yield systematic overestimations of center of mass VO. Measures of GCT from the accelerometer are valid when compared with GRF data, particularly at faster running speeds.

scholarly journals Running ground reaction forces across footwear conditions are predicted from the motion of two body mass components

2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (5) ◽  
pp. 1315-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew B. Udofa ◽  
Kenneth P. Clark ◽  
Laurence J. Ryan ◽  
Peter G. Weyand
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Time Patterns ◽  
Foot Strike ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Vertical Ground ◽  
Force Time

Although running shoes alter foot-ground reaction forces, particularly during impact, how they do so is incompletely understood. Here, we hypothesized that footwear effects on running ground reaction force-time patterns can be accurately predicted from the motion of two components of the body’s mass (mb): the contacting lower-limb (m1 = 0.08mb) and the remainder (m2 = 0.92mb). Simultaneous motion and vertical ground reaction force-time data were acquired at 1,000 Hz from eight uninstructed subjects running on a force-instrumented treadmill at 4.0 and 7.0 m/s under four footwear conditions: barefoot, minimal sole, thin sole, and thick sole. Vertical ground reaction force-time patterns were generated from the two-mass model using body mass and footfall-specific measures of contact time, aerial time, and lower-limb impact deceleration. Model force-time patterns generated using the empirical inputs acquired for each footfall matched the measured patterns closely across the four footwear conditions at both protocol speeds ( r2 = 0.96 ± 0.004; root mean squared error  = 0.17 ± 0.01 body-weight units; n = 275 total footfalls). Foot landing angles (θF) were inversely related to footwear thickness; more positive or plantar-flexed landing angles coincided with longer-impact durations and force-time patterns lacking distinct rising-edge force peaks. Our results support three conclusions: 1) running ground reaction force-time patterns across footwear conditions can be accurately predicted using our two-mass, two-impulse model, 2) impact forces, regardless of foot strike mechanics, can be accurately quantified from lower-limb motion and a fixed anatomical mass (0.08mb), and 3) runners maintain similar loading rates (ΔFvertical/Δtime) across footwear conditions by altering foot strike angle to regulate the duration of impact. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here, we validate a two-mass, two-impulse model of running vertical ground reaction forces across four footwear thickness conditions (barefoot, minimal, thin, thick). Our model allows the impact portion of the impulse to be extracted from measured total ground reaction force-time patterns using motion data from the ankle. The gait adjustments observed across footwear conditions revealed that runners maintained similar loading rates across footwear conditions by altering foot strike angles to regulate the duration of impact.

scholarly journals Associations between Well-Being State and Match External and Internal Load in Amateur Referees

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3322
Author(s):  
Eñaut Ozaeta ◽  
Javier Yanci ◽  
Carlo Castagna ◽  
Estibaliz Romaratezabala ◽  
Daniel Castillo
Keyword(s):  
External Load ◽  
Contact Time ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Internal Load ◽  
Match Play ◽  
Power Meter ◽  
Ground Contact Time ◽  
Training Impulse ◽  
External Loads

The main aim of this paper was to examine the association between prematch well-being status with match internal and external load in field (FR) and assistant (AR) soccer referees. Twenty-three FR and 46 AR participated in this study. The well-being state was assessed using the Hooper Scale and the match external and internal loads were monitored with Stryd Power Meter and heart monitors. While no significant differences were found in Hooper indices between match officials, FR registered higher external loads (p < 0.01; ES: 0.75 to 5.78), spent more time in zone 4 and zone 5, and recorded a greater training impulse (TRIMP) value (p < 0.01; ES: 1.35 to 1.62) than AR. Generally, no associations were found between the well-being variables and external loads for FR and AR. Additionally, no associations were found between the Hooper indices and internal loads for FR and AR. However, several relationships with different magnitudes were found between internal and external match loads, for FR, between power and speed with time spent in zone 2 (p < 0.05; r = −0.43), ground contact time with zone 2 and zone 3 (p < 0.05; r = 0.50 to 0.60) and power, speed, cadence and ground contact time correlated with time spent in zone 5 and TRIMP (p < 0.05 to 0.01; r = 0.42 to 0.64). Additionally, for AR, a relationship between speed and time in zone 1 was found (p < 0.05; r = −0.30; CL = 0.22). These results suggest that initial well-being state is not related to match officials’ performances during match play. In addition, the Stryd Power Meter can be a useful device to calculate the external load on soccer match officials.

scholarly journals A Systematic Approach to the Design and Characterization of a Smart Insole for Detecting Vertical Ground Reaction Force (vGRF) in Gait Analysis

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anas M. Tahir ◽  
Muhammad E. H. Chowdhury ◽  
Amith Khandakar ◽  
Sara Al-Hamouz ◽  
Merna Abdalla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Applied Pressure ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Piezoelectric Sensors ◽  
Sensor Calibration ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Vertical Ground ◽  
Smart Insole

Gait analysis is a systematic study of human locomotion, which can be utilized in various applications, such as rehabilitation, clinical diagnostics and sports activities. The various limitations such as cost, non-portability, long setup time, post-processing time etc., of the current gait analysis techniques have made them unfeasible for individual use. This led to an increase in research interest in developing smart insoles where wearable sensors can be employed to detect vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) and other gait variables. Smart insoles are flexible, portable and comfortable for gait analysis, and can monitor plantar pressure frequently through embedded sensors that convert the applied pressure to an electrical signal that can be displayed and analyzed further. Several research teams are still working to improve the insoles’ features such as size, sensitivity of insoles sensors, durability, and the intelligence of insoles to monitor and control subjects’ gait by detecting various complications providing recommendation to enhance walking performance. Even though systematic sensor calibration approaches have been followed by different teams to calibrate insoles’ sensor, expensive calibration devices were used for calibration such as universal testing machines or infrared motion capture cameras equipped in motion analysis labs. This paper provides a systematic design and characterization procedure for three different pressure sensors: force-sensitive resistors (FSRs), ceramic piezoelectric sensors, and flexible piezoelectric sensors that can be used for detecting vGRF using a smart insole. A simple calibration method based on a load cell is presented as an alternative to the expensive calibration techniques. In addition, to evaluate the performance of the different sensors as a component for the smart insole, the acquired vGRF from different insoles were used to compare them. The results showed that the FSR is the most effective sensor among the three sensors for smart insole applications, whereas the piezoelectric sensors can be utilized in detecting the start and end of the gait cycle. This study will be useful for any research group in replicating the design of a customized smart insole for gait analysis.

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